401 E MAIN

401 E MAIN

Jefferson

Watertown

1874

C. 1925

1986,2020

small retail building

Italianate

Cream Brick

No

This building was constructed in 1874 for Christof Schroeder, and housed the Nowack Brothers furniture store between 1876 and 1885. It housed the Nowack, Schmutzler & Co. furniture store between 1889 and 1907. Then it became the Schmutzler and Oestreich furniture store and funeral home. Between 1921 and at least 1930, it was the Schmutzler Funeral home.

In the 1870s Charles and Frank Nowack began the Nowack Brothers furniture store. In 1879 Edward Schmutzler, son of pioneer carpenter and builder Christian Schmutzler, joined with the Nowack Brothers in the furniture and undertaking business. Eventually Schmuztler became the sole owner and in 1910 he operated the business with Harry Krier. The firm was incorporated in 1912 and in 1919 it was operated solely by Oscar Schmutzler. The firmhas continued into the twentieth century and today it has a prominent funeral home in the old Schmutzler home on 4th St.

This building is significant for local history under National Register criterion A because it was the long-time home of the Schmutzler furniture and undertaking business.

Next to the Keck furniture store, the Nowack Brothers and Schmuztler company were the largest and most successful furniture firms. But Schmutzler branched out into the funeral home business, one they continue today, making them somewhat different than Keck's business. Because they were such a long-term and important Watertown business and they still operate today, the Schmutzler building is significant for local history.

The building also contributes to the overall development of commerce in the Main Street Comemrcial historic district because it housed retail businesses throughout its history.

Built for Christof Schroeder, an undertaker in 1874, this long, three-bay, cream brick Italianate influenced vernacular brick building features a molded brick cornice ornamented by a row of brick dentils and drip moldings that is visually supported by capped brick end piers and by capped applied brick pilasters that extend throught two stories on the west elevation. Projecting segmentally arched window heads resting on consoles characterize the recessed bays that are ornamented by a row of dentil trim along the top edge on both the facade and the west elevation. Plain projecting cornices over the glass storefronts were added to the facade and the south end of the west facade around 1925. An off-set double leaf entrance door is located on the west end of the facade.

The appearance of the Schroeder building historically known as the Schmutzler Furniture Store and Funeral Home has been altered by the covering of the original windows with wood panels (windows present under wooden panels according to Robert Schmutzler).

The Christof Schroeder building is significant under Criterion C as an example of a commercial vernacular buliding influenced by classical design sources including the Italianate and the Neo-classical Revivals. One of the most elaborate vernacular brick buildings in the commercial district, the Schroeder building exhibits the elaborate arched eyebrow window heads and cornice of the Italianate style as well as the suggestion of an entablature supported by capped applied brick pilasters as seen in the Neo-classical style. Other good examples of the combination of the classical and Italianate influences on a commercial vernacular form in the proposed Main Street Historic District are the Pritzlaff building at 412 E. Main (65-35) and the Mulberger building at 215 E. Main (65-11).

Built in 1874 for Christian Schroeder to house his saloon as well as his coffin shop and undertaking business, this building is better known historically as the Schmutzler Furniture Store and Funeral Home.

(A) Tax Records, City of Watertown, 1860-1910, Area research Center, Library, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. (B) Watertown Democrat April 27, 1876. (C) Building Inscription. (D) Mr. and Mrs. Robert Schmutzler, interview with the author Feb. 26, 1987, Watertown, WI. (E) Watertown City Directories, 1866-1930, Watertown Public Library. (F) Watertown, Wisconsin Centennial 1854-1954, Watertown: Jansky Printing Co., p. 73.

Main Street Commercial Historic District

Jun 02, 1989

Yes